IH Makes Formal Apology On ER Closure

February 21, 2012

A local Interior Health official has made a formal apology to Castlegar City Council following the recent closure of the city's Emergency Room. 

I-H Community Area Director Linda Basran says none of the 14 casual staff were obligated to fill a vacant shift they found out about the night before the closure. She told councillors "...we were in the wrong in terms of how this closure was handled...".

As for whether a similar incident could happen in the future?  Basran says staffing shortages do occur and she " could not guarantee this type of challenge would not happen in future" ....but she said she's committed "...to making sure processes are followed and we'll do everything possible to notify everyone who needs to be notiified."

Basran says information did not flow to all key personnel responsible for communicating the closure.

The mayor of Castlegar told us he found out about the closure hours after it occurred.